Means for splicing telegraph, telephone, and other poles.



PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

A J. D. SOSEMAN. MEANS FOR SPLIOING TELEGRAPH, TELEPHONE, AND OTHER POLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2. 1905.

Witnesses A UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE:

JOHN D. SOSEMAN, OEMONROE; WISCONSIN.

MEANS FOR S-PLICINGTELEGRAPH, TELEPHONE, AND OTHER POLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented July 17, 1906.

Application filed september 2, 1905. Serial No 276,861.

graph, Telephone, and'other Poles,-of which the following is a specification.

The present application relates to a device primarily intended for use in repairing telegraph, telephone, and other poles.

One .of the great sources of expense incident to maintaining a telephone or telegraph line is the necessity for frequently replacing the lower sections of the poles or the parts embedded in the ground, which become so weakened by the action of moist-urethereon as to not furnish a proper support for the upper wire-carrying section.v

Ina ma or1ty of cases when a pole has to be replaced the larger part thereof is perfectly sound and could be used for an indefinite time if the lower section thereof could be restored to its original condition.

I have invented a method of repairing such oles, which consists in substituting for the ibwer dama ed section of the pole a stub of proper lengt which is firmly secured to the body of the pole. Material suitable for such stubs can be readily had at a very small expense, and by following the plan invented by me the'cost of maintenance of a telephone or telegraph line may be materially reduced.

' In carrying out my method I provide an ad'ustable support by means of which the pole can be firmly maintained in an upright position while the necessary excavation is made about the base thereof and while the rotten or otherwise dama ed lower section is removed and replaced y a sound stub.' This improved supporting device forms the subject of my present invention and is illusf trated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a section of a telephone or telegraphpole with my improved supporting device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view,'on an enlarged scale, throu h the pole and the clamp at the upper end of tlle Supporting device. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of'one of the legs of thedevice. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively detail views of one of the supporting-blocks and of the grip-block. of the-clamp. Fig. 6 illustrates one manner of new stub to the body of the pole ch the lower damaged section has been removed. Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device comprises a clamp adapted to engage a pole and-to be supported by a plusecuringua from w rality of extensible legs each connected atsuitable bolt extending through alined apertures 5 6, formed, respectively, in said ears i and the upper section ofthe leg. Below the ears 4, and preferably in alinement with the space between them, each supportingblock is provided with an ear 7, havin an aperture 8 formed therein, and through such apertures 8 of the said blocks extends a chain or cable 9 of such length as to completely encircle the pole.

At one end the chain or cable 9 is provided with a head or enlarged section 10, which is adapted to enga e a projection 11 on a gripblock 12, the cable 9 extendingthrough a passage 13, formed in the projection 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The inner face of the gri -block 12 is concaved, so as to fit against to which it is ap lied, and on its outer face, at the opposite en thereof from the projection 11, said block is provided with two projecting ears 14, forming between them a assage through which the cable 9 is adapte to exan conform closely to the surface of the pole tend. The section of the cable 9 adjacent the opposite end thereof from the head 10 is threaded, as at 15, and on such threaded section is screwed a suitablenut 16. Between the nut 16 and the faces 17 of the lugs 14 on the grip-block 12 maybe arranged a sleeve 18. It will 'be understood that sleeves 18 of difierent lengths may be emple yed to ada tv different 7 the device for use with poles o ameter. The cable 9 is intended to be of sufficient length to encircle the largest poles employed, and in connection with smaller poles it will of course be necessary to interpose between the lugs 14 and'nut 16 a sleeve18 j'offz the nut 16 .on'fj e cable the lat-'- ter will be drawn close against the pole 1 and.

suitable len th. By turningl .thethreade section 15 of t in connection with the blocks 2 and 12 form a clamp engagingthe pole so tightly as, in connection with the legs connected thereto, to hold the pole in proper vertical position, even if.it be divided, for example, in the manner indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 1 and the lower section removed. If desired, the inner faces of the blocks 2 12 may be roughened or provided with relatively sharp edges or projections adapted to positively engage the pole.

Each of the legs of the device consists of two main sections which are telescopically connected. The u per section 19 may be formed from a soli rod or bar of metal and have its upper end properly shaped to fit between the ears 4 of the supporting-block 2, as previously described. The lower end of the section 19 extends into the tubular section 20 and is supported at the desired height by a cross-pin 21, adapted to be passed through either pair of a series of a ertures 22, formed in said tubular section, t e lower end of the section 19 being preferably grooved to conform to the exterior of the pin 21. The tubular section 20 of each leg is adjustably connected to the shoe or base 3. As shown, a threaded rod 24 is connected at its lower end by a ball-and-socket joint 25 with the shoe 3, and said rod 24 extends into and engages a suitable internal thread at the lower end of the section 20 of the leg. The rod 24 is provided near its lower end with a section 26, which is preferably made of polygonal crosssection, so as to be readily enga ed by a wrench, by means of which the ro may be rotated to lengthen or shorten the leg connected therewith. In the said section 26 may be formed transverse apertures 27 to receivea suitable bar or lever for use in turning said section, as desired.

The manner of using the device hereinbefore described will be readily understood.-

When it is necessary to replace the lower end of a pole, the'device is securely clam ed to the pole ata suitable elevation and t e legs are extended to the required length, so as .to form a firm support extending from the clamp to the surface of the ground. It will be seen that the le s are of such length that their lower ends wi 1 be situated at a consid-- erable distance from the pole, so that the necessary excavation can be made after the sup ort is in place or the excavation may be ma e prior to connecting the device with the pole. If the adjustment provided by the pin 21 and apertures 22 is not sufiicient to produce exactly the len th required, the further adcj1 ustment is effects by turning the threaded r0 24.

After the device has been properly attached to the pole to form a firnrsupport therefor the necessary excavation is made and the pole divided, preferably on a diagonal line, as indicated in Fig. 1. The line of cut will be effected by a suitable gage, and the stub to be substituted for the lower section of the pole will have its up er end formed to correspond to the lower ace of the upper section of the pole. After the stub has been inserted in the excavation from which the original lower section of the ole has been removed it is securely united wlth the body of the pole in any suitable manner. As shown in Fig. 6, one method of connecting the stub to the body of the pole is by a series of closelyadjacent wrappings of wire. Various means for connecting the stub and pole together may, however, be employed.

The tubular leg-sections 20 may be of any desired length and, if desired, may each be made in several lengths suitably connected. To prevent any possible slippin of the shoes 3, stakes or pins 28 may be driven into the ground about each shoe or the several shoes connected by a chain or similar means.

While the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings includes three legs, it will be evident that the device may have a reater or less number, as required. Ordinarily it is preferred to employ three; but in case the pole to be repaired should be situated close to a buildin it might be impossible to use more than two egs, a block or other-suitable spacing device being interposed between the building and pole to prevent the latter from moving in that direction. i

The supporting-blocks 2 may be arratnl reversely to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4that is, with the ear 7 above the ears @1- if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Let ters Patent, is v 1. The herein-described devicefor the purpose s ecified, comprising a pole clamp adapte to be fitted to or removed from operative position b movement in a direction transverse to the ength of a pole, and a plu-' rality of extensible legs connected with said 0 am 2. glhe herein-described device for the purpose specified, comprising a pole clamp, adapted to be fitted to or removed from openative position by movement in a direction transverse to the length of a pole, and a plurality of extensible legs extending downwardly and outwardly from said clamp, and

.each having an enlarged base or shoe at its lower end.

3. The herein-described device for the pur- 4. The herein-described device for the pur pose s ecified, comprising a clamp adapted to be etachably secured in position on a pole and adjustable to engage poles of difierent diameters, and a plurality of extensible legs connected with sand clamp.

5. The herein-described device for the purpose specified, com rising a pole-clamp, a plurality of legs a apted to extend downwardly and outwardly from said clam and a shoe or base adjustably connectec with each leg, the face of each shoe to which the leg is connected forming an acute angle with the lower face or surface thereof.

6. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a pole-clamp comprising a plurality of se arated blocks and a cable connecting said blocks and adapted to secure them to a pole, and a plurality of legs each pivotally connected to one of said blocks.

7. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of" a pole-clamp, a plurality of legs connect d with said clamp, a base or shoe for each 1 g, and an adjusting-screw between each leg and the base or shoe therefor.

8. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a ole-clamp, a plurality of legs connected wit said. clam and each having a socket-opening throug its lower end, a shoe or baseiece for each leg, a screw connected to each base or shoe and extendinginto the socket in the leg, and a nut mounted on the screw and supporting the leg at the desired elevation thereon.

9. In a device for the purpose described,

the combination of a pole-clamp, a plurality of legs each comprising two telescoping sections one pivotally connected with said clamp and the other connected with a suitable shoe or base-piece, and means for adjusting both sections of either leg longitudinally relative to its said shoe or base-piece.

10. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a'plurality of separated supporting-blocks, a cable eXt-endin through a passage 1n each of said blocks, an ada ted to encircle a pole, a grip-block with w 'ch one end of the cable is engaged and rovided with a passage for the other end of t e cable, means for drawing the cable through said blocks and holding it in the desired position, and legs each pivotally connected at its upper end to one of the sup orting-blocks.

- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN D. SOSEMAN.

presence-of Witnesses:

JoHN D. DUNWLDDIE, ANNA BALTZER. 

